When details, breaf as they were, of the BMW 19-003 reached Japan, the Army and Navy held a joint conference (a rare event) at which it was decided that a Japanese version of this turbojet held more promise in the short term than Japanese work still in its early stage. this resulted in 4 projects.

The Ne-20 was the navy Project headed by Osamu Nagano assisted by Tanegashima at Kugisho in Yokosuka. The Ne-20 was to became the Japan's most successul turbojet and the other 3 projects were not fully developped in the time available.

It was the Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipyards that was chosen by the navy to be in charge of trial-manufacture and mass production of jet engines (for commercial use also).

Why was the Ne-20 made at Ishikawajima Shipyards?

Koichi Ichida, chief of the Business Planning Department, National Aerospace Development Agency, says that Reciprocal engines were the main power during the war, but Ishikawajima made steam turbine engines for ships.

It is close to a jet engine because of the rotating mechanism, which is different from a piston engine. That is why turbo engines were researched for automobile engines too.

Indeed, Nakashima Aeroplane and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also were directed to do trial-manufacture with the same one-page diagram from Germany, but both were unable to realize it.

NE-20 [Source : Tanabe ]

Preserved Ne-20

Three Ne-20s have been preserved to the present day :

One at Ishikawajima-Harima's internal company museum in Tanashi ,

Two at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Everything concerning aircraft, including the Ne-20, was either destroyed by the Allied Powers or brought back to the United States.

Then, for a seven-year period Japan was prohibited from anything related to aviation. Not only research and development, but the path to civil aviation also was c1osed.